Tribute to an African Public Health Leader Creativity & Nutrition Science - September 2018 | Issue 2
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Tribute to an African
Public Health Leader
Creativity & Nutrition Science
September 2018 | Issue 2
Foreword BY CHRISTINE TALJAARD-KRUGELL
In this issue, Katie shares a beautiful
tribute to the recently passed
African Leader Professor Bongani Mayosi.
through the ANLP toolbox. Many
individuals added creativity to their
list of things that they will start to do
Professor Mayosi was a South African more once they return to their working
NRF A-rated Scientist, a well-respected environments. These alumni felt that
cardiologist, Dean of Health Sciences by being creative, they had more
at UCT, and a leader in his field. While energy and were more able to find
his loss will be felt for many years to positive problem-solving solutions.
come, we also want to review the
spirit that underlies the making of such Jane writes a brilliant article on creativity,
leaders. At his eulogy, he was described making the statement that not only
as “full of integrity and characterized CAN creativity be learned – it MUST be
by creativity and innovation”. learned. One blogpost frames creativity
Contents In his article, Leon speaks about the
“Power of Purpose”, and how this
can drive us to be the best version of
as such: “Creativity is the act of turning
new and imaginative ideas into reality”.
When reading this definition, creativity
becomes framed in practical and
ourselves. We also focus on creativity, relevant way to our nutrition fraternity.
Foreword 1 something we may struggle to link our
nutrition-world when patients dietary I hope that the ideas shared by Nema,
Professor Bongani Mayosi: Tribute to a true African plans follow a specific calculation, Navneet and Jane, will inspire us all
Public Health Leader 2 policy programmes have outcomes to be more creative and innovative in
to be met and research articles have our path to becoming better leaders.
The power of purpose 6 specific methodologies to follow.
Creativity & Nutrition Science: A complete anathema Interestingly, over the past years that I
or perfect partnership? 10 have been with the ANLP, I remember
numerous times that individuals
Creativity & Nutrition: A story from India 16 reconnected with their creative side
How to excite people around nutrition..? 19
Contributors 20
WWW.AFRICANUTRITIONLEADERSHIP.ORG THE LEADER 1
Professor
leadership style and that he always leadership principles that characterise the
made time to speak to people. He was African Nutrition Leadership Programme.
humble and he treated everyone with
respect. Dignity, integrity, honesty and Prof Mayosi: The Gold
Bongani Mayosi:
selflessness are among the many words Standard in African Public
used to describe Prof Mayosi. I did not Health Leadership
know him personally, but his contribution
to health and his passing at such a young The following statements were made
Tribute to a true age has affected me and many others in
South Africa, Africa and globally. Thus
by people who worked with Prof
Mayosi, many at the memorial service
African Public Health Leader I wish to pay tribute specifically to Prof held at UCT on 2 August 2018. I have
specifically highlighted the leadership
Mayosi’s leadership style. When people
BY CATHERINE PEREIRA describe the type of person he was, he principles that Prof Mayosi was
sounds like a textbook example of the described as having exemplified:
I‘ m sure that everyone knows the
name Professor Bongani Mayosi
by now, but for our ANLP alumni in
The National Research Foundation South Africa: “Professor Mayosi never
forgot the challenges he had to overcome, and he therefore dedicated himself
countries other than South Africa, he to mentoring and supporting students faced with similar challenges.”
was the Dean of the Faculty of Health
Sciences at the University of Cape Town Students described Prof Mayosi as “a guiding light and a brilliant role
(UCT) and he recently passed away model who always took time to listen to their concerns. Many described
tragically, at the age of 51. In 2017, the him as humble and kind and said he went out of his way to help them.”
National Research Foundation awarded
Prof Mayosi with A-rating as a “Leading The National Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Mathume Phaahl said
international researcher in Cardiology that “Bongani could have been a multimillionaire many times
and Genetics”, in 2009, he was awarded over, but he chose to serve the people up until the end...”
the county's highest honour, the Order
of Mapungubwe (Silver) by the President Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, representing the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences
for his clinical and research work. Prof and Groote Schuur Hospital said that “He was second to none as a
Mayosi was an adviser to the national clinician. He was loved by his patients who remembered his gentle and
Minister of Health, he was on a number impeccable bedside manner. As a teacher he was legendary. As a leader,
PROF BONGANI MAYOSI
Bongani was awesome. His brand of leadership was honest, inspiring,
full of integrity and characterised by creativity and innovation.”
of Journal Editorial Boards, with a huge Numerous opinion pieces have been
number of publications and research written about Prof Mayosi since his
outputs and he had held a number of sudden passing. In writing this tribute, I
Further comments on social media Bongani Mayosi was characterized by
important leadership positions. For have used many quotes that have come
(mostly from students and colleagues his co-workers. He was so inspirational
those who want more information on from others, simply because they were
on Twitter) included the following: to me and to many others.’
the ground-breaking achievements and so well written and provide a personal,
numerous accolades that he received accurate description of this inspirational ‘”Mentor-in-chief; maker of people; and ‘I feel blessed to have worked under
can read further in, his extended and man. Almost all the rhetoric has been conductor of the orchestra of people Bongani and benefitted from his
extremely impressive (45-page) CV about what a good person he was, the trying to change the world”. That's how leadership, kindness and humanity.’
from 2016 is available online here. scientific excellence he embodied, his
WWW.AFRICANUTRITIONLEADERSHIP.ORG THE LEADER 3
represent suicide as causal series of The Acting Dean of the UCT Faculty of
‘He was never too proud to be one Let us use Professor events culminating in a tragic decision.’ Health Sciences, Dr Reno Morar has
with our struggle. He marched the
streets of Cape Town with us in Mayosi’s life, legacy and The World Health Organisation has prompted all of us to remember that
his gown to show solidarity to the untimely death to create indicated that depression is common
and increasing, but although there are
“Professor Mayosi was deeply committed
to equity and justice in improving the
student struggle as an academic….’
awareness and reflect known and effective treatments, fewer health of the people in our country. It
‘A humble teacher who was always gentle than 10% of people affected are able to is therefore fitting that we contribute
and never needed to show aggression Many of the pieces that have been written access these treatments, for a variety to increasing awareness of depression
to us those he taught. He was generous have made strong recommendations of reasons. Suicide can be prevented. and other mental health illnesses
with his complements and would to consider the stressful academic in our communities and promoting
gently show you your blind spots.’ environment and the pressures that are We know that there are many pressures destigmatisation of these conditions.
placed on leaders. The unique pressure on the Higher Education sector in South We are still working towards wholeness
of health professionals in academia of Africa and other African countries, in our many fractured environment and
needing to maintain clinical experience, coupled with increasing burdens of systems – in our Faculty, our University
At the memorial service that was held balance teaching and learning, research disease and public health crises across and our country. We value every member
at UCT on Thursday 2 August 2018, and innovation, academic citizenship and the continent. Academics and health of our Faculty community – just as
every speaker that spoke about Bongani community engagement is overwhelming. professionals are expected to be available Professor Mayosi did. Let us commit now
described how he would always have a
24/7; there are often urgent matters to create safe and inclusive spaces for
solution to every problem, that anyone Dr Lydia Cairncross’ opinion piece stated that need attention, emergencies and deep reflection. I encourage personal and
could ask him anything and we would that “The fact that Professor Mayosi’s crises. Leaders need to practice self- group reflection and let us approach this
also have a suggestion of what could job required that he be in the office care and lead by example in emulating with honesty, integrity and kindness.”
be done to improve the situation. The before dawn and stay late into the night work-life balance. We can’t continue
word ‘solution’ was used repeatedly. and work weekends and many hours in to allow selfless, caring, dedicated UCT has created a platform,
Unfortunately, however, Bongani did between is not something we should people such as Professor Bongani #RememberingMayosi where
not have the solution or means to be proud of; it is something we must Mayosi, who contributed so much to official letters of condolences have
access a solution to his biggest problem examine. Because responsible, caring say many, to pay the ultimate sacrifice. been published together with
of all. Bongani’s family shared that people will always push themselves messages from students, colleagues,
he had been struggling with clinical to the limit to complete the work that Social media has also changed the friends and acquaintances from
depression for a number of years and must be done. The failing is in the manner in which people communicate – South Africa and globally.
the end result was that, on Friday institution that requires this unhealthy people can now sit behind a computer,
27 July 2018, he took his own life. work ethic in order to “perform. … If concealed, and make cruel, arrogant, I would like to finish with a quote that
we look at the academics in our faculty, rude and discriminatory comments to one of Prof Mayosi’s sisters, Kuthala,
Professor Alison Lewis, speaking on balance, self-care and downtime is anyone, often without consequence. read (and which she said ‘that Bongani
behalf of the Dean Committee at UCT a myth. It simply does not exist… This seems to be having a spill-over liked’) at the official provincial funeral
of the Faculty of Engineering & the
effect into emails, messages and even service that was held on 4 August 2018 :
Built Environment, said Mayosi had Many have indicated that there is a need media opinion pieces. We need to start
made personal sacrifices for the benefit to destigmatise and create awareness "I shall pass this way but once; any good
thinking a bit more about how we engage
of others: “He carried the burden of around mental illness . Mohammed that I can do or any kindness I can show
with each other, on various forums, we
responsibility. He carried the burden Abdullah, writing for the Medical Brief to any human being; let me do it now. Let
need to start accepting when someone
of our ambitions, goals, hopes and states that‘ …we need to be careful of me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not
says no, they can’t take something else
dreams. We could project our loftiest oversimplifying what depression is: a pass this way again."
on and we need to start treating each
ideals of character onto him, but we complex disease impacted by genes, - Etiene De Grellet
other better and with more respect.
can also forget that we are just human. environment, chemical imbalances
The most poignant thing we can learn in the brain, stressors, trauma and
from any hero is that they are human.” context. It is misleading to casually
WWW.AFRICANUTRITIONLEADERSHIP.ORG THE LEADER 5
The famous psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, The directing and motivating power
The power
was enlightened by his experience of purpose is also at the heart of two
of our (human being’s) search for of the most acclaimed leadership
meaning and purpose in life under the roles, i.e. visionary leadership and
most difficult, demanding and life- transformative leadership.
threatening of circumstances in German
of purpose
concentration camps during World War Leaders regarded as both visionary
II. He declared that this desire-driven and transformative, such as Alexander
self-focus is narcissistic and eventually the great, Henry Ford, Martin Luther
detrimental to the self. Towards the King, Nelson Mandela, and Warren
end of his career, Maslow recognised Buffet, are certainly amongst the most
BY LEON COETSEE the insights of Frankl, admitted he admired leaders. What qualifies an
was wrong, and even changed his very individual as a visionary leader and
popular model to accommodate the a transformative leader? What are
thinking inherent in the second category their outstanding characteristics?
T he author Richard J Strecher
describes an imaginary drug “that
has proven (by scientific research) to
There exists an abundance of evidence
substantiating this relationship between
purpose and health, happiness, well-
of purpose classification described below.
This second category has as its basis
Observers and researchers have
proposed rather extensive lists of
characteristics including, being:
add years to your life; reduce the risk being and achievement. Having an the true self (as found in many Western
of heart attack and stroke; cut your end purpose in our own lives and and Eastern religions and in modern • A strategic thinker
risk of Alzheimer disease by more than within our organisations is generally psychology) that transcends our self- • A risk taker
half; help you to relax during the day today recognised as a prerequisite centred and ego-focussed desires. It is • Charismatic
and sleep better at night; double your for success and prosperity. related to purpose and meaning but • An excellent communicator
chances of staying drug- and alcohol-free has a determining emphasis on growth- • Inspirational
after treatment; activate your natural Purpose in life and in work can be related challenges and contributions However, a very strong case can be
killer cells; increase good cholesterol; classified into two broad categories. The focused on other people and society. made that the outstanding characteristic
and repair your DNA. What if this first category stems from the self-centred is an ability to focus followers on a
imaginary drug reduced hospital stays so and ego-focussed needs and desires of One of the recognised, more modern vision and create their full identification
much that it put a dent in the national individuals. This desire driven happiness theories of motivation, Locke and with and commitment to this vision.
health-care crises? Oh, and as a bonus, and satisfaction are also the foundation of Latham’s (1984) Goal Setting Theory,
gave you better sex?” He says the side many well-known theories of motivation is based on the motivational power of A vision is an ideal - a realistic,
effects will be: “More friends, more such as that of Maslow, Herzberg and goals and goal setting, i.e. purposes, attractive and ambitious, yet credible
happiness. Deeper engagement in life.” MacGregor. Abraham Maslow, for in enhancing individual and team picture of the future. But, from the
example, was the founder of humanistic performance. A well formulated purpose writer’s perspective - for a vision to
Stecher then state the obvious - that this psychology, viewing “self-actualisation” statement becomes an inner (internal) elicit identification, commitment and
drug will be worth billions and that the as the pinnacle of human existence - motivator, focusing us on what matters the passion of followers - it must be
inventors of this drug will receive Nobel the stage only reachable after all other most. The concept of purpose can then moulded into a purpose statement.
Prizes and have institutes named after more basic needs have been satisfied. be described as “Incorporating self- The reason for this becomes clear
them. The wonderful thing is that this transcending goals of deeper value”. when one compares an analysis of the
‘remedy’ really exists, but it’s not a drug -
concepts of vision, purpose and target.
”It is purpose and it is free!“ says Stecher.
WWW.AFRICANUTRITIONLEADERSHIP.ORG THE LEADER 7
Visionary and transformative leadership sentiments, attitudes and behaviours at
VISION PURPOSE TARGET
has change, growth, and creating a better a given time. A significant purpose goes
• A desired, distant • An intermediate future • A short term future future at its heart. Change, as associated beyond ones’ own needs or wants and
future state state state with transformative leadership, is in is most often based on values such as:
• Concept • Reason • Focus almost all cases costly, disruptive and
requires energy, effort and commitment. • Generosity, kindness, caring,
• Image/imagination • Intention/intent • Goal
The need for change should thus be relationships, community
• Dream • Higher order objective • Aim
investigated to ensure that a real and • Courage, ambition achievement,
• Idea • Rationale with deeper • End
meaningful purpose exists, and that the vitality, expertise
• Prophesy value • Home in on
fulfilment of this purpose will ensure • Growth, development,
• Farsightedness • Practical
the satisfaction of a significant need. security, independence
• Trustworthiness, humility
A Vision is the broader A purpose answers the Targets are the specific
picture of a future state question WHY a vision end results (preferably We tend to confuse or conflate “purpose” The determining question remains
to be realised - the should be instituted measurable and not with “meaning” but there are important - does the plan or change fulfil a
WHAT AND WHERE by being very specific necessarily financial) or differences. For example, meaning in real need? Will the end result (the
we want to be, on about the outcomes aims we want to achieve. life and work speaks to the existential defined purpose) create a valuable
achieving this vision. to be achieved. Formulating targets question: “Why am I here/why are “asset” which does not yet exist?
answers questions such we here?” – “for what reason?”. But
as: Where do we want purpose in life and work is concerned Understanding the value of what is to
to go next? Where with what we really value. It is embodied be created by the results/outcomes (the
do we want to be by the question: “Are we living and purpose) of a plan or a change, together
next? What must the working for what matters most?”. with the transferring of these insights and
situation be at a specific ownership of these values to followers
time in the future? Our values (those that we really hold and getting commitment to realise
dear) are a result of our cultural this purpose, is the essence of both
heritage and environment, and of our visionary and transformative leadership.
education, our experiences, but also the
Focussing on purpose and Together vision, purpose and targets
working to reach successive provide members of a team or an
targets activates a purpose organisation with a long and medium
term unified and aligned focus, described References:
directed, vision aligned in terms of short term measureable
and action orientated outputs. The links and relationship of
Frankl, Viktor E. (1959) Man search for meaning. Great Britain: Hodder and Stoughton.
strategy on route to this process is illustrated in Figure 1. Strecher, Victor J. Life of purpose: How living for what matters
most changes everything. Amazon: Kindle Edition.
achieve the vision.
Locke, Edwin A and Latham, Gary P. (1984) Goal setting: a
motivational technique that works! Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
VISION PURPOSE TARGET
Figure 1: Aligning followers and focusing their coordinated actions on specific targets (measurable outcomes)
WWW.AFRICANUTRITIONLEADERSHIP.ORG THE LEADER 9
Creativity &
Nutrition Science Let me share with you another fact
– CREATIVITY can be learned. In fact,
It is titled ‘Creativity and Science:
The Perfect Couple’ (https://www.
A complete anathema or perfect partnership? it must be learned – “Every great huffingtonpost.com/jayme-cellitioci/
advance in science has issued from a creativity-and-science-the-perfect-
BY JANE BADHAM new audacity of the imagination” (John couple_b_4782882.html). She states that
Dewey) or if you prefer Max Plank, “A “alongside a national agenda to increase
“The world we have made as a result of the vivid intuitive imagination, for new ideas STEM (science, technology, engineering,
level of thinking we have done thus far creates are not generated by deduction, but and mathematics) literacy, there is a
problems we cannot solve at the same level of by artistically creative imagination.” parallel track of growing attention being
thinking at which we created them.” placed on creativity.” Why? Because
Albert Einstein My reading took me to a website called creativity is the act of turning new and
Creativity at Work (www.creativityatwork. imaginative ideas into reality. The only
com) that writes “A study by George Land way to solve complex challenges is
T here is no doubt that being a leader doesn’t surprise me that we bemoan reveals that we are naturally creative through creativity and thinking differently.
in todays world requires a whole new how little progress we make and that and as we grow up we learn to be
attitude and set of skills. The challenges there is little breakthrough thinking. uncreative. Creativity is a skill that can We need to make idea generation and
we face are more complex, things be developed and a process that can be idea implementation firmly ingrained
change in seconds and one of the few It makes me think of that often quoted managed… You can learn to be creative habits. We need to recognise that
things that is certain, is uncertainty! but I fear not often digested saying of by experimenting, exploring, questioning truly great ideas will not flourish in
Albert Einstein, “The definition of insanity assumptions, using imagination organisations top heavy with programmes
Just as leadership now has to be more is doing the same thing over and over and synthesising information… It and talk shops. “Great ideas will come in
about transformation and successful again but expecting different results.” requires practice to develop the organisations with a vision and a mind-set
team, so to does it require creativity if we right muscles and a supportive devoted to innovation and continuous
are to successfully navigate complexity, environment in which to flourish.” improvement – to finding a better way
Do you remember that question, that
rapid change and uncertainty. I’m amazed every day” writes Charles Thompson, the
I think has been raised at every ANLP
at the draft agendas when I’m asked to Wow just like leadership! author of the book ‘What a great idea’. He
since its inception, – can leadership be
facilitate meetings or strategy sessions defines the first step to creativity as being
learned? Perhaps you even remember
where the clear objective is to come with freedom – inner freedom to consider
the discussion around it. Perhaps the As I read more, I got increasingly excited
new ideas and solutions to problems – new ideas and new possibilities. This is
answer that YES leadership can be that I am not alone in believing that being
the very definition of creativity. They are not always easy and many of us have
learned, unlocked a door for you if you creative and being a leader and being a
so often death by PowerPoint with a 3:1 created boundaries to being creative.
had always thought that leaders had to scientist are not mutually exclusive! There
ratio of being ‘spoken at’ versus ‘being Once we get over those, we also need
be born! I know a few ANLP Alumni who is a wonderful blog by Jayme Cellitioci,
consulted with’ and co-creating new to accept that creativity must be more
have stepped up to leadership roles they dating back to 2014 in the Huffington
concepts to address old and seeming than idea generation - the best ideas
never imagined they would even consider Post that is a fabulous read, in fact a
intractable problems. Being creative. It are useless unless they are acted on.
because of that ANLP discussion… must read for anyone interested in the
link between science and creativity.
WWW.AFRICANUTRITIONLEADERSHIP.ORG THE LEADER 11
Thompson charts the process or your muscles in other of the elements and required attention to detail. I then come Being creative in problem solving is both continuum of creativity as being find you actually enjoy working in more back in towards the end when the rest of challenging and exciting, stimulating generation, promotion, design, than one! In my context I always say, I see the team are stuck in the trees and zoom but nerve-wrecking and demands implementation and evaluation. Not the whole forest but I’m not interested in us back out to look at the forest again and both flexibility and discipline. everyone enjoys each one of these every leaf of each tree – in other words I the big picture we were working towards. elements, but then you ensure you see the issue and have the idea towards have a team to cover all the bases, and addressing it, but I need others to then surprisingly you might find yourself flexing run with making it happen and the WWW.AFRICANUTRITIONLEADERSHIP.ORG THE LEADER 13
Here are 6 tips that have worked for me from ‘What a
great idea’ for developing a more creative mindset:
1. Practice ‘Ready, Fire…Aim’ thinking. 4. Write down your ideas before you
That is define the problem (Ready); come forget them. I keep a small white board
up with as many ideas as fast as you next to my bed as ideas often come to
can without making any judgement of me in the middle of the night and if I jot
any idea (Fire); now sift, synthesis and them down at once, I can roll over and
choose (Aim). Don’t only use analytical go back to sleep! And thank goodness
and deductive reasoning be open to for voice recording on my phone for
many ideas no matter how crazy. those ideas when I’m driving the car.
2. Create idea friendly environments. 5. Train yourself to avoid (listening
Drab offices with little light that feel to or using) killer phrases. Things like
oppressive don’t encourage creative ‘yes, but…’; ‘We’ve tried that before…’;
thinking. Paint a wall in your office a ‘It will never work here…’; ‘There’s
funky colour, turn it into a chalkboard; no evidence…’, ‘We don’t have any
have a bean bag as well as your desk money…’ There are some famous killer
chair; put some toys on your desk or phrases that were proven spectacularly
boardroom table (lego, colouring in wrong - Decca Records on turning
pens); even a plant and an abstract down the Beatles in 1962 “Groups
painting or a painting or statue that with guitars are on their way out”.
embraces your vision can make the
difference. In our office we have a series 6. There are no dumb questions – all
of three paintings that I commissioned questions are good. Questions result
that depict ideal infant and young child in talking. Talking can result in new
feeding and there is also an ever-growing thinking and ideas. In fact, try a new
number of statues from all over the What I love most about creativity is A series of pictures commissioned
frame of mind by replacing ‘We’ve got
world of mothers and children. These its ability to perceive the world in to embody our vision in our work
to find the solution’ with ‘We need to
inspire me towards solution thinking. new ways, to find hidden patterns, to in optimal infant and young child
look at some possible solutions for this
make connections between seemingly feeding and that inspire me to think
problem.’ It opens a whole new world.
unrelated phenomena, and to generate creatively towards solutions.
3. If at first you don’t succeed – take
solutions. To end, my favourite quote
a break. Get up from your desk, get a
from the inventor Thomas “There
coffee, have a chat to a colleague or
ain’t no rules around here! We’re
even just come back to it tomorrow.
trying to accomplish something!”
WWW.AFRICANUTRITIONLEADERSHIP.ORG THE LEADER 15
Creativity A mother with a child between 4 and
17 years can enter the foods eaten by
her child at each meal throughout the
with other specifications like serving
size and information on added sugar.
A similar pattern is followed at lunch,
& Nutrition:
day. Figure 2 below shows an example dinner and any other meals. All menu
of the food options that can be selected items in the App have been included
for breakfast. A mother can choose considering the food habits of Indians
up to 4 menu items that her child may across various regions (including
have consumed for breakfast, along the great variety across regions).
A story from India
BY NAVNEET MITTAL
India was ranked 97th of 118 nations
in the Global Hunger Index (2016),
primarily due to subclinical micronutrient
if their child is not ill, then the child is
healthy. It is hard to convince her that the
child may have subclinical micronutrient
deficiencies (e.g. Iron, Zinc, Vitamin deficiencies when she is unable to
D, Vitamin A), also known as ‘hidden see any overt signs or symptoms.
hunger’. The Indian National Health
Policy (2017) states that one key focus Considering this challenge an online
should be to create public awareness resource was created – the Nutrimeter
of the issue and encourage parents to Diet Assessment Tool (Figure 1).
feed their children a more diverse diet.
However, Indian mothers believe that
Figure 2: Input in the Nutrimeter Diet Assessment Tool
The tool then assesses the intake of her child is receiving adequate essential
nutrients for the day and identifies micronutrients regularly. For example,
the gaps when compared to the Figure 3 below shows the intake of a
recommended daily dietary allowance child as assessed by the Nutrimeter
(RDA) for Indian children of that age. The tool for energy, fat, carbohydrates and
aim is to help the mother identify these protein along with key micronutrients
hidden micronutrient deficiencies and like Vitamin C, Iron, Folic Acid etc. In
plan menu items better to make sure
Figure 1: A Nutrimeter Diet Assessment Tool
WWW.AFRICANUTRITIONLEADERSHIP.ORG THE LEADER 17this example, the child consumes more
than adequate fat during the day which How to excite people
around nutrition..?
is indicated by the green color, however
the intake of other macronutrients like
carbohydrate, protein etc is inadequate
(indicated by the orange color if intake is
between 50% and 100%? of RDA). If the
BY HEMA KESA
A
intake of any nutrient is calculated as less s it may be difficult for many of technology with nutrition:
than 50% of RDA the indicator is red. us to link nutrition to creativity,
we asked Hema Kesa, a community • Create FREE Apps (Heathy eating,
This tool has been extremely helpful in nutrition expert from the University of healthy lifestyles and nutrition
creating public awareness on hidden Johannesburg, to provide us with some education) for mobile phones.
hunger and supporting balanced meal ideas. She gave us some great tips on • Create FREE games (Heathy eating,
planning, especially for vulnerable how to be creative in the school food healthy lifestyles and nutrition
populations such as children. This online environment and how to use technology education) for mobile phones.
tool was combined with a 360-degree to engage people around nutrition. Such Apps could be useful for the
communication campaign via various general public but also for school
mediums like print, TV etc. to further Creativity in schools and how it learners as most secondary learners have
raise awareness of the prevalence of can move nutrition forward. smart phones. Different educational
subclinical micronutrient deficiency levels could be introduced.
in Indian children (Figure 4). • Dedicate a corner in the class, maybe
as part of Life Orientation/Skills, to
good nutrition and healthy eating – put Thinking about single parents, an
These examples highlight the importance App that gives easy, healthy recipes
of presenting scientific information on up posters and/or make a table display
• As part of Nutrition Education: that kids love could be useful.
Figure 3: Output of the Nutrimeter Diet Assessment Tool nutrition in consumer friendly, easy to
understand language through media paint messages on waste bins
channels that can access the masses. It is or on one wall in the school Depending on the intention of the
only when CREATIVITY is integrated with • Learners already take part in message, these Apps may also be useful
Nutrition Science that MAGIC happens! competitions such as World for pregnant women and new mothers
School Milk Day: get the learners to promote breastfeeding and have a
to also make creative drawings Q&A section for nutrition knowledge.
or items out of milk cartons One such example is MomConnect,
• Other initiatives could involve an SMS service for pregnant mums in
Chef demonstrations, or South Africa. While this isn’t specifically
Figure 4: healthy lunchbox competitions nutrition focused there is a Q&A section
amongst industry partners including information on breastfeeding.
Such services are certainly often well
Technology and nutrition received, half of women registering
– the future: their pregnancy in the public sector
Against the background of the (amounting to over half a million
4th Industrial Revolution and women) registered for the MomConnect
the development of Artificial service (Barron et al., 2016).
Intelligence, one needs to incorporate
WWW.AFRICANUTRITIONLEADERSHIP.ORG THE LEADER 19Contributors
THE LEADER is published and distributed
as an electronic version only. THE LEADER
appears on the ANLP’s website (www.
africanutritionleadership.org). Comments
and success-stories linked to any of the
focus areas of the ANLP are welcomed and
can be posted on the ANLP LinkedIn site.
Please send any correspondence or
initiatives to Christine Taljaard-Krugell
(africannutritionleadership@gmail.com).
Christine Taljaard-Krugell - Editor Lisa Ware - Language Editor Catherine Pereira
Part-time researcher and Lecturer & Researcher. University of the Lecturer: Department of Dietetics
RSA Registered dietician Witwatersrand. and Nutrition; Faculty of Community Design by Graphikos:
Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, lisa.jayne.ware@gmail.com and Health Sciences; University of the graphikos@nwu.ac.za, 018 299 4232
North West University, Western Cape.
Potchefstroom Campus cpereira@uwc.ac.za
christine.taljaard@nwu.ac.za
Leon Coetsee Jane Badham Hema Kesa Navneet Mittal
Extraordinary professor, Managing Director JB Academic Head of Department: Independent Nutrition Consultant,
Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, Consultancy, South Africa Hospitality Management Kenya, Nairobi
North West University, jane@jbconsultancy.co.za School of Tourism and Hospitality navneetmittal@gmail.com
Potchefstroom Campus (STH) University of Johannesburg
Leon11@vodamail.co.za hemak@uj.ac.za
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